This story is related to an earlier post my father wrote: Diabetic Seizure

Thump Thump Thump. My heart sped, my hands tightened into fists, sweat beads ran down my face mixing with the tears that fell from my eyes. I imagined my sister in the ambulance, scared; with blurred vision I kept running, not knowing when I'd stop or where I was going.

Her name was all my voice could speak, "JoJo, JoJo, JoJo!"

Her face was all my mind could see, beautiful red hair, hazel eyes, and a gorgeous smile. Her voice was all I wanted to hear, but the distance and pain of the image blocked it. I stopped, dropped to my knees and shouted,

"Why! Why her? What did she do to deserve this?" The memories started flowing as fast as the tears came.

The first time Johanna was in the hospital was four years ago. It felt like yesterday, when I saw the worry in my mother's eyes as she darted out the door with my dad behind her, both uncertain of what was to come. Johanna looked up at me with a white face that was unhealthy,

"Its okay Naomi, I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too." I choked up.

I turned up the music to my iPod, rose from my knees and took off, heading for the dock. I threw the iPod to the ground and jumped fully clothes into the lake.

The cold water awoke another memory: Johanna's first hospital admission.

I held Johanna's hand as she sat on the grey steel table.

"Okay Johanna, this is your last shot for the day. Then you get to pick a prize." The nurse drew the insulin from the bottle and pinched my sister's leg.

I watched the needle pierced my sister's skin and saw Johanna wince. It hit me: for the rest of her life Johanna would be dependent on needles. How many needles in a day? How many days in her lifetime? 

 

 

I had no idea that Johanna's condition would change my life the way it has. I was taught responsibility, as I learned to give injections, watch for high and low blood sugars and how to care for Johanna accordingly. From that day on I delved into book after book and did school project upon school project about Type 1 Diabetes.

Walking back to the cabin I knew the memories, the research, and the active care for my sister over the last four years were leading me towards a career goal. Someday I would be a nurse. I would make a difference in other lives of children with type 1 diabetes.

My cousin Jenny ran towards me with her arms open wide.

"Naomi! Naomi! Johanna is on her way home. It was a diabetic seizure but she is going to be okay."

 

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